St. Thomas Charitable and Educational Trust

St. Thomas Charitable & Educational Trust envisions an India of hope, tolerance, and social justice, where poverty is overcome and everyone lives with dignity and security. The Trust empowers women, youth, and farmers by providing capacity building, vocational training, and skill development programs, helping create sustainable livelihoods and uplift their communities. It has been working tirelessly to foster societal development without discrimination.

Major Interventions:

St. Thomas aims to equip young people with 21st-century skills through self-learning and collaborative networks. It has strengthened faculty and student development through regular training, IT literacy sessions and career development programs. The youth in rural and urban areas are empowered through career development at three centres in Erode and Madurai, leading to job placements in various sectors.

Annai ITI provides technical education to secondary-stage students, focusing on meeting the demand for skilled professionals in industries around SIPCOT, Perundurai. The institute offers a range of courses in areas like MMV (Mechanic Motor Vehicle), Electricals, and short-term skill development programs, all affiliated with the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) and recognized by the Government of Tamil Nadu. With campuses in two locations, Annai ITI has nurtured numerous students, many of whom have successfully built careers in reputable organizations or ventured into entrepreneurship.

The Santhosam Family Counselling Centre addresses the youth, facing issues such as family conflicts, misunderstandings, drug addiction, dowry demands, and love affairs, often turn to local police, though many prefer to avoid police intervention for the sake of family dignity. The centre offers professional counselling services with dedicated male and female counsellors to provide an alternative. The centre collaborates with the District Social Welfare Board and other agencies for more complex cases.

Terrace and Home Gardening trainings are conducted for rural women, providing both classroom and live field instruction. After completing the training, the participants begin planting in their own homes. Aari and Zardosi embroidery trainings are offered for rural and semi-urban women, empowering them to start their embroidery businesses from home. Training in cutting, tailoring, and entrepreneurship are provided to women across three batches, along with instruction in handicrafts such as basket weaving and toy-making. A sewing machine operator training was inaugurated last year for tribal women, offering a path to employment or self-employment. Additionally, herbal napkin-making trainings are conducted, further promoting women’s financial independence and skill enhancement.